Electrical shears



Feb. 17, 1942. J. POLLAK y 2,273536 ELECTRICAL SHEARS Filed May 15, 1940Patented Feb. 17, 1942 ELECTRICAL sHEARs James Pollak, Chicago, Ill.,assigner to General Transformer Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a.corporation of Illinois Application May 13, 1940, Serial N0. 334,857

11 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically driven scissors or shears and inparticular to scissors which are adapted to be used by children forcutting paper and like material.

It is well known that an ordinary pair of scissors may be a dangerousinstrumentality in the hands of children and to remedy this the usualhand scissors have been made with blunt points rather than with sharppoints. However blunt scissors may be dangerous inasmuch as a childusing the same may inadvertently cut his own fingers.

This invention seeks to overcome the above objection in that the openingbetween the blades of the scissors is limited to such an extent that achilds fingers cannot be inserted between the blades. Furthermore, theangular displacement of one blade with respect to the other issuiilciently small so that the actual cutting edge of the blades may beconned to a small portion of the total edge portion.

It is an object of my invention to provide a pair of electrically drivenscissors which may be safely used by a child. Further objects reside inthe provision of improved electric blade actuating means, improvedswitch means and in an improved housing construction.

I have found it desirable to use a plastic housing for the bladeactuating means and in this connection I have so arranged the blades inrelation to the housing members that any inherent resiliency of theplastic housing members will not interfere with the free movement of theblades.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent as thedescription proceeds.

With reference to the drawing in which like reference numerals refer tolike parts- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of myinvention, one of the housing members being removed to better disclosethe parts;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a partial section taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed View showing in perspective certain ofthe parts;

Fig. 6 is a view taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken along line I-l of Fig. 1.

With reference to the drawing, reference numeral I0 indicates thehousing member shown 55 in Fig. 1, which cooperates with a similarhousing member II to completely enclose the working parts of theelectric scissors. Bosses I2 and I3 are formed on the interior surfacesin the housing members I0 an-d II, respectively, the bosses I2 beingdrilled and the bosses I3 being screw threaded so that the two housingmembers may be held together by means of screws I4. Each screw extendsthrough the aperture drilled in the bosses I2 and is threaded into thethreaded aperture formed in the bosses I3, the bosses preferably beingof such length that their respective ends abut each other as is shown inFig. 2. The housing members may be made of any suitable plastic materialin the form of a shell, the shape of the two housing members being suchthat they may be easily grasped by the hand when in assembled position.

An E-shaped laminated core I5 of soft iron is provided with anelectromagnetic winding I6. Bosses I'I are formed on the interiorsurface of the housing I0 near one edge thereof and said bosses areprovided with a threaded aperture so that the screws I8 which extendthrough the core I5 and into the bosses I'I may hold the core and thewinding securely with respect to the housing member I0. One or moreL-shaped insulation members I9 overlie a portion of the core and areheld in position by the screws I8. A contact member 20 in the form of astrip of copper is mounted on the edge of insulating strips I9 and acontact member 2I in the form of a resilient strip of metal cooperatestherewith, contact member 2I also being mounted on the edge of theinsulating members I9 in the manner shown in Fig. 1. A lead 22 extendsfrom the contact member 20 to a suitable source of alternating currentand a conductor 23 extends from the contact member 2I to theelectromagnetic winding I6. A lead 24 extends from the winding I6 to asuitable source of alternating current. It will be seen that when thecontact member 2I is displaced downwardly into contact with the contactmember 20 that the winding will be energized by alternating current. Anaperture 25 is formed at one end of the housing in which is positioned aplug 26. The leads 24 and 22 extend through the plug 26 and form,exteriorly of the housing, the usual cable for electrical householdappliances.

The winding I6 and the core I5 are so formed that they constitute analternating current magnet. An armature supporting member 21, which maybe lin the form of a strip of angle iron, is secured to the core I5 bymeans of rivets 28, and is provided with a bent over extension 29 towhich the armature 30 is welded. The bent over extension 29 issufficiently resilient so that the armature 30 may vibrate when thewinding I6 is energized` The opposite or unsecured end of the armature3U is bent up as indicated at 3I and is provided with a cylindricalextension 32 which cooperates with the movable blade as will behereinafter set forth.

A stationary blade 33 is provided with an edge 34 which terminatesadjacent the housing. The blade is provided with an extension 35 whichis oil'set from the main portion of the stationary blade `and extendsinto the housing, overlying boss 36 which is formed at a corner portionof the housing member I0. The boss 36 is provided with two upstandingribs which form a groove in which the extension 35 lies, the bossescooperating with the edges of the extension to prevent angulardisplacement of the stationary blade. A screw 3B is provided for holdingthe extension securely in the groove formed by the ribs.

A movable blade 39 is pivotally mounted on the stationary blade 33 bymeans of a rivet 40. The movable blade 39 is provided with an edgeportion 4I which also conforms generally to the shape of the housing. Aportion of the upper edge of the wall of housing member I is cut away asindicated at 42 to permit an extension 43 of the movable blade 39 toextend into the housing for cooperation with the blade actuatingmechanism.

A stub shaft 44 is journalled in extension 43 land is provided with acylindrical aperture 45 in which the cylindrical extension or pin 32 islocated. It will be seen that this linkage between the armature 30 andthe movable blade 39 Which is shown in detail in Fig. permits themovable blade to oscillate about the pivot 40 when the armature isvibrated.

The walls of the housing members IIJ and II are cut away as indicated at46 at a point adjacent the boss 36 to permit a control member 41 in theform of a thumb piece to extend outwardly of the housing. A pivot pin 48for the control member 41 is formed integrally with the housing memberI0 in the cut away portion 46. A boss or lug 49 may be formed in thewall member of housing member I0 to provide reinforcement for the pivotpin 48 on which the control member 41 is mounted. A pin 5U extendsoutwardly from the control member 41 and contacts the spring contactmember 2l in such a manner that when the control member 41 or thumbpiece is depressed the contacts will be closed thereby and thealternating current magnet energized to cause operation of the shears.One of the bosses I2 and I3 is located adjacent the control member tolimit its outward motion caused by the resilience of the contact spring2I.

An aperture 5I is formed in the control member 41 into which a plug maybe wedged to lock the thumb piece in its open or inoperative position.This expedient may be used to render the device inoperative when aparent desires the child not to use the same.

A strip of insulating material 52 may be inserted between the leads 22and 24 and the core I5 to prevent any grounding or short circuiting ofthe leads.

It will be seen that the device comprises generally a stationary bladeand a movable blade which are disposed at one end of a housing whichcontains the blade actuating mechanism. The

blades themselves each comprise an inner portion 53 which is disposedadjacent the housing, and `an outer end portion 54, which portionterminates in blunt ends. The blades are also provided with shearing orcutting edge portions 55, together with extended edge portions 56 whichneed not be ground or sharpened inasmuch as they serve merely as guidesto direct the paper which is to be cut into the shearing edge portions55. The oscillation of the movable blade is so limited by theconstruction of the blade actuating mechanism that all shearing orcutting may be conned to the comparatively small shearing edge portions55. Furthermore, it will be noted that the blades are so disposed thatthe angle or opening 51 formed between the blades is so small that achilds nngers cannot be inserted therein.

The inner portion 53 of the blades is so constructed that the bladesoverlap each other and extend right up to the housing. This prevents anyauxiliary shearing action at other edges of the blades inasmuch as noother edges are exposed.

The housing is so shaped that when the device is grasped by the hand inthe correct position for cutting the thumb naturally overlies thecontrol member 41. Furthermore, the greatest pressure on the housingwill occur at that end thereof adjacent the blades. The edge 34 of thestationary -blade which is adjacent the housing overlaps the seam formedby the edges of the two housing members I0 and II to restrain anytendency of the housing member to be elongated to such an extent that itcould snap over the edge of the other housing member and bind themovable blade or otherwise hinder its free oscillation.

A resilient stop member, in the form of a rubber collar 58, limits themotion of the armature 30 into the attracted Iposition as well as themotion of the movable blade 39.

The collar 58 is positioned on a boss I2 so that it is contacted -by thestub shaft 44 during the oscillation thereof, and the resiliency of thecollar absorbs the shock of impact and deadens vibration. The stopmember prevents contact of the armature 30 with the core I5.

While there have been shown and described certain embodiments of theinvention it is to be understood that it is capable of manymodifications. Changes, therefore, may be made Without departing fromthe scope of the invention as described in the appended claims, in whichit is the intention to claim all novelty inherent in the invention asbroadly as possible, in View of the prior art.

I claim:

l. An electrically driven childs toy for cutting paper comprising ahousing, a stationary blade associated with said housing, a vibratingblade pivotally mounted on said stationary blade exteriorly of saidhousing and at a point closer to the end of said stationary blade thanto said housing, the inner end of said vibrating blade extending intosaid housing, and electromagnetic means positioned within said housingand associated with' said inner end of said vibrating blade foractuating the same, the outer ends of said blades forming an openingsmaller than the diameter of a childs nger.

2. An electrically driven childs toy for cutting paper comprising ahousing, a stationary blade associated With said housing, a vibratingblade pvotally mounted on said stationary blade exteriorly of saidhousing close to the outer end thereof, the inner end of said vibratingblade extending into said housing, and electromagnetic means positionedwithin said housing and associated with said inner end of said vibratingblade for actuating the same, the inner edge of said stationary bladebeing extended laterally beyond both side edges of said vibrating bladeat the point where the latter extends into said housing and abuttingagainst said housing to form a guard for said vibrating blade.

3. An electrically driven childs toy for cutting paper comprising astationary blade and a vibrating blade, a plastic housing comprising anupper and a lower shell, a lug integrally molded in a corner of saidlower shell and reinforced by the side walls thereof, said lug beingprovided with upstanding projections and said stationary blade beingprovided with an extension constructed to t between said projections,means to hold said extension against the upper surface of said lug andin operative relationship with said upstanding projections so as toprevent rotation of said stationary blade with respect to said lug andsaid shell, and electromagnetic means positioned in said housing foractuating said vibrating blade, said lug being covered by said uppershell.

4. An electrically driven childs toy for cutting paper comprising astationary blade and a vibrating blade, a plastic housing comprising anupper and a lower shell, a lug integrally molded in a corner of saidlower shell and reinforced by the side walls thereof, the said lug beingprovided with upstanding projections, the inner edge of said stationaryblade overlapping the lower wall portion of said upper shell and beingprovided with an extension constructed to fit between said projections,screw means to hold said extension against the upper surface of said lugand in operative relationship with said upstanding projections so as toprevent rotation of said stationary blade with respect to said lug andsaid shell, said vibrating blade being pivotally associated with saidstationary blade at a point near the outer end thereof, andelectromagnetic means positioned in said housing for actuating saidvibrating blade.

5. An electrically driven childs toy for cutting paper comprising astationary blade and a reciprocating blade, a plastic housing comprisingan upper and a lower shell, a lug integrally molded in a corner of saidlower shell and reinforced by the side walls thereof, the said lug beingprovided with upstanding projections, the inner edge of said stationary`blade overlapping the abutting edges of the lower and upper shells andbeing provided with an,4 extension constructed to t between saidprojections, screw means to hold said extension against the uppersurface of said lug and in operative relationship with said upstandingprojections so as to prevent rotation of said stationary blade withrespect to said lug and said shell, said reciprocating blade beingpivotally associated with said stationary blade and positioned ibeneaththe same and having a portion thereof extending into said housing, meansfor securing said shells together, and electromagnetic means positionedin said housing for actuating said reciprocating blade.

6. A childs toy for cutting paper, comprising a housing, shear bladesassociated therewith and pivotally associated with each other exteriorlyof said housing, each of said blades being provided with a shearing edgeportion in close proximity to the point where said blades are pivotallyassociated, and an extended portion, the edges thereof being blunt andserving as guides, and means located in said housing to oscillate one ofsaid blades with respect to the other to a limited extent whereby theshearing action of said blades will be confined to said shearing edgeportions.

7. Electric shears comprising a housing formed by an upper and a lowershell, a stationary blade rigidly secured to one of said shells, anoscillating blade pivotally mounted on said stationary blade and havinga portion extending into said housing, electromagnetic blade actuatingmeans positioned within said housing, circuit closing means includingresilient Contact means and a manually actuated member pivotally mountedon one of said shells and having a portion extending outwardly of saidhousing and a portion engaging said resilient contact means, saidmanually actuated member being adapted to be displaced against theresiliency of said contact means to close the circuit through saidelectromagnetic blade actuating means.

8. Electric shears comprising a housing, a stationary blade rigidlysecured to said housing, an oscillating blade pivotally mounted on saidstationary blade and having a portion extending into said housing,electromagnetic actuating means for said oscillating blade positionedwithin said housing, said actuating means comprising a core and analternating current magnet coil cooperating therewith, an armature forcooperation with said core, resilient contact means mounted on saidcore, and a contact actuating member pivotally mounted on said housingand having a thumb engaging portion extending outward of said housingand a portion engaging said resilient contact means, said contactactuating member being adapted to be displaced against the resiliency ofsaid contact means to close the circuit through said coil, said armaturebeing operatively associated with said oscillating blade.

9. An electrically driven childs toy for cutting paper comprising ahousing, an electromagnetic actuating device positioned within saidhousing, including a core, an alternating current coil cooperatingtherewith, and an armature resiliently mounted at one end thereof tosaid core, said armature being biased to unattracted position, astationary blade mounted on said housing, a vibrating blade pivotallymounted on said stationary blade near the outer end thereof and havingan end portion extending into said housing and linked to said armaturewhereby said blade may be vibrated by said armature, and a resilientstop member adapted to be engaged by said end portion when said armatureis in attracted position to limit the vibratory motion of said armatureand of said vibrating blade.

10. In an electrically operated scissors having a casing, anelectro-magnetic mechanism housed within said casing and connected to anelectrical source of power, an armature positioned within said casing toreceive vibratory action from the electro-magnetic mechanism, astationary scissors blade attached to and extending beyond the casingand a movable scissors blade pivoted to the stationary scissors bladeand connected to and movable by the armature, a switch mechanismcomprising a stationary member positioned within the upper portion ofsaid casing, a resilient movable member positioned Within the upperportion of said casing adjacent said stationary member, and normallyspaced therefrom, a push button member attached to said casing at itsupper and forward portion, said push button member manually operablefrom the exterior of the casing, and extending Within said casing tocontact said movable member, said push button member adapted upon beingpressed from the outside of the casing to move said movable member intocontact with said stationary member to complete the electric circuit andcause the scissors to operate, said movable member adapted by itsresiliency upon pressure being released from the push button member toreturn the movable member to normal spaced relation from said stationarymember to stop operation of the scissors.

11. In an electrically operated scissors having a casing, an electricdriving mechanism housed within said casing and connected to anelectrical 20 source of power, scissors blades attached to and extendingbeyond the casing and operable by said electric driving mechanism, aswitch mechanism comprising a stationary member positioned within theupper portion of said casing, a resilient movable member positionedwithin the upper portion of said casing adjacent said stationary switch,and normally spaced therefrom, a push button member attached to saidcasing at its upper and forward portion, said push member manuallyoperable from the exterior of the casing and extending Within saidcasing to contact said movable member, said push button member adaptedupon being pressed from the outside of the casing to move said movablemember into contact with said stationary member to complete the electriccircuit and cause the scissors to operate, said movable member adaptedby its resiliency upon pressure being released from the push buttonmember to return the movable member to normal spaced relation from saidstationary member to stop operation of the scissors.

JAMES POLLAK.

